'It's a celebration of life'

Over the past six years, the annual RBC Hike for Hospice has become something of a memorial event for the friends and family members of those who have died at the Maison Vale Hospice.

Groups congregate on the lawn near the William Bell Gazebo in Bell Park, wearing colourful t-shirts bearing the names, and sometimes photos, of their loved ones. Laughter and tears are both in abundance.

This year's event, which is sponsored by Northern Life, takes place starting at 1 p.m. May 6, with registration beginning at 12 p.m. Participants then walk the length of the boardwalk and back.

Those who have had a family member pass away over the past year are invited to pick up a ribbon bearing their loved one's name along the way.

“It's certainly emotional, because you remember your loved ones,” Léo Therrien, the executive director of the Maison Vale Hospice, said. “For us, it's a celebration of life.”

He said it's also a chance for families to see the staff, volunteers and other families they got to know while their loved ones were staying in the hospice.

Many families are appreciative of the support the hospice gave them during their loved one's last days of life, and they want to do something to give back, he said.

Last year, more than 600 people participated in the event, raising more than $128,000.

“This year we expect more participants, and we expect to raise more,” Therrien said.

“For one, we had 170 residents in the hospice last year, compared to 106 in the previous year. That's a lot more families. Also, you also have families from previous years who come back and walk.”

Therrien said he's thrilled that Churchill Public School has stepped up to the plate to support the hike this year.

They're raising pledges for their own hike on May 4, and many students, parents and staff members are expected to attend the May 6 event as well.

Fundraising necessity

It's necessary for the hospice to raise funds because not all of the organization's operating expenses are covered by the province.

The province now covers 100 per cent of the nursing care at Ontario hospices, but that still leaves all of their other expenses, including building maintenance and the salaries of non-medical staff.

At Sudbury's 10-bed hospice, that adds up to more than $800,000 per year.

Therrien said the Maison Vale Hospice receives help from the United Way, which covers the costs of its psycho-social support program, and the Sudbury Food Bank, which covers the cost of the food served at the hospice.

Local businesses and service clubs have also been very generous, he said.

In memoriam donations also cover a significant portion of the hospice's operating costs, Therrien said.

“Services are free at the hospice, so the majority of families will ask for donations in lieu of flowers,” he said. “Last year we raised over $200,000 of in memorium donations to the hospice.”

Families are also stepping up to beautify the grounds of the hospice, Therrien said.

People are able to purchase trees, rocks or benches in memory of their loved ones. The Foligno family have even built a terrace in memory of Janis Foligno, who passed away at the hospice in 2010. The Minnow Lake Lions Club has built a gazebo. Families have also donated funds to build a dock, as the hospice is located on the shores of Bethel Lake.

The hospice is currently seeking donations to build a boardwalk on the property.

Adding life

Maison Vale Hospice cares for those who are in the last three months of life, Therrien said.

Last year, 170 people died at the hospice. Of those, 100 people came from their own homes or from retirement homes, 60 came from the hospital and 10 came from the emergency department.

This means that the service the hospice provides allowed 170 hospital beds to be freed up last year, he said.

The hospital, which is supposed to treat people and send them back home, isn't an ideal environment for people to live their last days, Therrien said.

Most people would prefer to die at home, but when they can't, it's better for them to be in the homelike environment of the hospice, where their families are welcome to stay as long as they want, he said.

“We have seven beds facing the sunrise on Bethel Lake, and three beds facing the sundown on Ramsey Lake,” Therrien said. “For some, it's like being at camp.”
The hospice has also recently started working with the North East Community Care Access Centre to assess people in the community who are in their last six months of life, and to ensure they're getting the proper care.

Therrien said there are many volunteer opportunities at the hospice — everything from cooking to gardening to working directly with residents. Volunteers who wish to work with residents are put through 30 hours of training.

Because working with the dying can take an emotional toll, the hospice has a psycho-social support program for its staff and volunteers. The hospice's social worker and spiritual care co-ordinator are available for them to talk to.

“One day we had five residents who died in the same day, and also nine in one week,” Therrien said. “At some point, this is stressful for everyone, so people need to talk to someone.”

The hospice, though, is not a place of sadness, Therrien said. It's a place full of life.

“You live until you die, and at the hospice, that's what we focus on,” he said. “What matters at the end of life is not to add days of life, but to add life to the remaining days. That's what we do here.”

For more information about the hospice's services or any of its upcoming fundraising events, visit maisonsudburyhospice.org or phone 705-674-9252.

Fluttering Fundraiser

Hike for Hospice isn't the only upcoming fundraising event for Maison Vale Hospice.

At around 11:30 a.m. July 21, the hospice and Warmhearts Palliative Caregivers will team up for a butterfly release event. This event is also sponsored by Northern Life. For $30, people can purchase a monarch butterfly, which will be released at the William Bell Gazebo in Bell Park. They'll be able to specify which organization they wish to support.

“Basically, they develop the butterflies for these special events,” Jennifer Grooms, the marketing co-ordinator at Maison Vale Hospice.  “You buy them frozen, because they're dormant. You warm them up in your hand, and they start to come to life. You open it up, and they fly away. It's very cool. We're very excited.”

Grooms said butterflies are a symbol of palliative care, because they represent the various stages of life. She said people are welcome to purchase butterflies in memory of loved ones who have passed away. 

There's also Wheels for Hospice, a motorcycle run fundraiser, which is slated for Aug. 19.

Posted by Mark Gentili